Carrying case



1953 e. A. NAAB ETAL 3,110,376

CARRYING CASE Filed Jan. 21, 1965 INVENTORS.

GEORGE A. NAAB BY EDWIN M. Mc Keon ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,110,376 CARRYING CASE George A. Nash, 4027 MacNirt Drive, Lfiayette Hill, 5 2.,

and Edwin M. MeKeon, 1539 Marian Road, l aisington, Pa.

Filed Jan. 21, 1963, Ser. No. 252,685} 6 Claims. (ill. 199-51) This invention relates to a carrying case and is concerned in particular with a carrying case, which is adapted for general usage such, for example, as for clothing and personal accessories required for short trips away from home or for clothing and sports accessories such, for example, as that used by a golfer at a country club.

The invention contemplates a carrying case which can be readily handled by the user and yet is designed for packing clothing and other equipment in a compact arrangement and to permit ready access to all the clothing and equipment When the case is opened. For this purpose, the case is compartmented to independently receive cumbersome apparel items such as shoes, suits, etc., and is also provided with pockets to receive small items, such as toilet accessories, golf balls, etc. The case provides a principal section which has a side closure wall hingedly connected thereto permitting the interior of the case to be completely exposed when the case is opened.

The principal section is generally rigid and is formed of a flat base, end Walls which diverge toward the top and one side wall. The principal section is also provided with a pair of vertical partitions forming end spaces with the end walls, which progressively decrease in cross section between the bottom and top of the case, and a central space between the end spaces. The side closure Wall has flat outer portions which conform generally to the shape of the end spaces of the principal section so that when the case is in closed condition the end spaces are eifectively closed and form independent end compartments. The side closure wall is also provided between its flat outer portion with a pouchlike space which conforms to the general shape of the central space of the principal section and communicates therewith providing a central compartment of substantial volume.

For a more detailed explanation of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, where- FIG. 1 is a view in perspective showing the carrying case of the invention in closed condition;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view in perspective of the carrying case of FIG. 1 in open condition to show detailed construction.

Referring to FIG. 1, the numeral 10 indicates generally the principal section of the carrying case while 11 indicates generally the side closure wall of the case. The principal section and side closure wall are fixedly interconnected along their bottom edges by a hinge connection indicated at 12 and separably interconnected along their side and top edges by slide fastener means indicated at 13.

Referring to FIG. 2, the base of the principal section 16 is indicated at and will be formed of a material suitable to provide substantial rigidity. The rear side wall 16, similar end walls 17i7 and top 18 will preferably be formed of the same or similar material and be permanently secured to the base 15 to provide a generally rigid unitary structure. Vertical parallel partitions l919, are fixedly mounted between the base l5 and top 18 and form generally similar end spaces 20-26 and a central space 21. The end spaces are purposely designed to receive a shoe as shown in broken lines, that is, with the heel portions reposing on the base 15 and with the toe portion adjacent the top 18 of the principal section. Consequently, the end spaces 2i]2i progressively de- "ice 2 crease in cross sectional area between the base 15 and top 13 and the end walls 17l7' diverge toward the top 18 providing the carrying'case with a distinctive shape. The central space 21 is of substantially greater cross sectional area than either of the end spaces and is intended for receiving clothing.

The side closure 11 is secured to the principal section It? along the full length of the base 15 and preferably by the piano hinge connection shown in FIG. 2, while the slide fastener connection 13 is preferably formed in two complemental sections which are operative by slides 25-25 to open or close the carrying case by manipulation of the slides between their positions shown in FIG.

2 and that of a locking device 26 located on the top 18. The side closure 11 is generally rigid and is formed of two similar flat rigid end portions 2727 and a central pouch 28. The end portions 2727 are of the same general shape as the end spaces Zil-ZO' of the principal section lil so that when the slide fasteners are in their closed positions as shown in FIG. 1 the end portions 27-27 form the end spaces 2 and 259' into closed compartments. The walls forming the compartments are preferably made water repellant as shown in FIG. 2 in order to adapt the compartments for receiving wet or muddy shoes, such as golf shoes, and thus prevent any damage to clothing located in the inner space 21.

The central pouch 28 of the side closure 11 preferably conforms in shape with and in effect, provides an extension of the central space 21 of the principal section ill and forms therewith an overall central compartment of relatively large volume. The material forming the pouch 28 may be generally rigid and the same as that forming the end portions 27-27 or the pouch 28 may be constructed of a pliant or resilient material to permit varying the volume of the central compartment arrangement. Additionally, and in order to conveniently carry toilet articles, golf balls, tees and other small accessories a group of pockets P may be provided in or from the material of which the compartment 28 is formed.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that Within the scope of the appended claims the invention may 'be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

We claim:

1. A carrying case comprising a principal section having a top wall and base interconnected by end walls, one side wall interconnecting the top, base and end walls providing a generally rigid structure and the other side wall being hingedly mounted along its lower edge to said base permitting its movement toward and away from the principal section to closed and to open positions, respectively, a pair of upright partitions in the principal section, said partitions forming a central space therebetween and end spaces with said end walls, said other side wall having flat rigid side portions and a central pouchlike portion therebetween, said side portions closing the end spaces and said pouchlike portion communicating with the central space of the principal section when said other side wall is in closed position.

2. A carrying case comprising a principal section having a top wall and base interconnected by end walls, one side wall interconnecting the top, base and end walls providing a generally rigid structure and the other side well being hingedly mounted along its lower edge to said base permitting its movement toward and away from the principal section to closed and to open positions, respectively, a. pair of vertical partitions fixedly mounted between said top wall and base, said partitions dividing the principal section into a central space and opposed end spaces, said other side wall having fiat rigid side portions and a central 3 d p'ouchlike portion therebetween, said side portions form- 5. A carrying case as in claim 2, further characterized ing closed compartments with said end spaces and said by slide fastener means for securing said other side wall pouchlike portion communicating with the central space when in closed position to the principal section. of the principal section When said other side Wall is in 6. A carrying case as in claim 2, further characterized closed position. 5 by said pouchlike portion of said other side wall having 3. A carrying case "as in claim 2, further characterized pockets formed therein for receiving small items. by said end Walls diverging upwardly at the same angle and each of said end compartments being adapted for the eferences liter in the file of this patent reception of a Shoe UNITED STATES PATENTS 4. A carrying case as in claim 3, further characterized 10 A A a q 1 by the walls forming the end compartments having their Brady inner faces coated with a Water repellant medium. 

1. A CARRYING CASE COMPRISING A PRINCIPAL SECTION HAVING A TOP WALL AND BASE INTERCONNECTED BY END WALLS, ONE SIDE WALL INTERCONNECTING THE TOP, BASE AND END WALLS PROVIDING A GENERALLY RIGID STRUCTURE AND THE OTHER SIDE WALL BEING HINGEDLY MOUNTED ALONG ITS LOWER EDGE TO SAID BASE PERMITTING ITS MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE PRINCIPAL SECTION TO CLOSED AND TO OPEN POSITIONS, RESPECTIVELY, A PAIR OF UPRIGHT PARTITIONS IN THE PRINCIPAL SECTION, SAID PARTITIONS FORMING A CENTRAL SPACE THEREBETWEEN AND END SPACES WITH SAID END WALLS, SAID OTHER SIDE WALL HAVING FLAT RIGID SIDE PORTIONS AND A CENTRAL POUCHLIKE PORTION THEREBETWEEN, SAID SIDE PORTIONS CLOSING THE END SPACES AND 